Dynamic Duos: The Alpha/Beta Key to Unlocking Success in Gay Relationships

by Keith W. Swain

Forget everything you’ve ever been told about gay dating. In this revolutionary approach to finding and keeping love, psychotherapist Keith W. Swain shows you how to open the door to a new world of hidden gay men, one of whom is your Mr. Right. The key is the “Alpha” vs. “Beta” style, counter-balancing traits necessary for success. Test yourself to see which one you are and what your perfect partner will be. Behind its amusing framework of superheroes, Dynamic Duos gives science-based answers that explain why you’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places. Based on new data from the National Survey of Male Relationships, Swain zeroes in on the strategies that will work for you, spells out the eight early indicators of a gay couple on their way to a successful lifelong marriage, and demonstrates how to write the perfect personal ad to attract your type. Filled with illuminating case stories and practical tips, Dynamic Duos is your guide to finding lifelong love. Batman or Robin, your perfect mate is out there. What are you waiting for? Keith W. Swain, PsyD , has a private practice in Denver, and he has also been a professor of psychology at the University of Colorado at Denver.

Genres: Philosophy

243 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

Keith W. Swain, PsyD, has a masters in counseling psychology at Lesley University in Massachusetts, and a doctorate in clinical pyschology at California Coast University in Santa Ana. He has a private practice in Denver, Colorado, and he has also been a professor of psychology at the University of Colorado at Denver. His column appears regularly in Out Front Colorado."

Reviews

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a book club that I had joined. This was our first book. As far as self-help type books go, I would say that it is one of the better, how to develop a loving relationship books that I have read.

Mostly, I liked this book because of the journey that it inspired for me. I took what I was reading and made myself evaluate myself. I am not sure if there was something about this book that inspired me to take it more seriously than I've taken other self-help books or if this book found me at a time that I was more serious about improving my life.

[Taylor Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the book is very redundant throughout, the content that is within is incredibly beneficial. The book challenges our perceptions of our motivational forces as men and how that interplays in a gay relationship. Although the theory presented in this book COULD be debunk, it appears to feel a lot of the unanswered questions of the odd indiosyncracies present in gay culture. And in all honesty I hope that the theory presented by this book is real because it is a derivative from logic and common sense.

[Dex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truly misleading. Basically, the author is advocating for "alpha male" gay men to be with "beta male" gay men (in other words, for any successful gay relationship, one has to be the top/dominant/masculine, and the other the bottom/submissive/feminine). Keith Swain is not in a position to be writing material of this kind, having no experience in therapy or gay male psychology. This book is just another ploy to make money.

[Kevin Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

It gave me great insight to male/male relationships and to my own patterns from childhood